My Favorite Martian . The Boston Phoenix . 02-23-99

My Favorite Martian

DIRECTED BY: Donald Petrie

REVIEWED: 02-23-99

For all their bright colors and cheeriness, so many recent live-action kids' movies have been rather lifeless affairs. And let's face it, another film based on an old television show doesn't seem likely to break the mold. But as the condescending (to earthlings) but bumbling and lovable Martian "Uncle Martin," Christopher Lloyd's patented zaniness is contagious. Everyone involved, from Wallace Shawn as the neurotic, greedy scientist to Ray Walston (the original Uncle Martin in the '60s TV show) as an alien investigator, seems to have a lot of fun parodying and kid-ifying science-fiction conventions. Director Donald Petrie (Grumpy Old Men) sets the appropriate tone with plenty of immature but harmless sight gags and the most cartoonish aliens you've seen this side of the Teletubbies (Jerry Falwell, be warned). Jeff Daniels (as the news reporter who discovers Uncle Martin) and Elizabeth Hurley (as his love interest) acquit themselves respectably.

--Mark Bazer

Full Length Reviews
My Favorite Martian

Capsule Reviews
My Favorite Martian
My Favorite Martian

Film Vault Suggested Links
Orgazmo
Repo Man
Galaxina

Rate this Film
If you don't want to vote on a film yet, and would like to know how others voted, leave the rating selection as "Vote Here" and then click the Cast Vote button.